Training camp is almost here for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with July 28 just two days away, and the roster already looks mostly settled. Baker Mayfield is locked in as QB1, Jake Browning is set as QB2, and most of the starting jobs around the team appear spoken for after Tampa Bay spent the offseason reshaping its roster, especially on defense.
That still leaves a few spots worth watching once camp opens. The biggest questions are in the backup mix, plus one starting battle that could actually matter.
At quarterback, the real fight is for QB3. Connor Bazelak held that role last season after stepping in for an injured Michael Pratt, but undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels out of Kansas is pushing for the job.
Daniels brings more athleticism and may fit better as a scout team quarterback, which gives him a real edge. Bazelak, though, earned praise last year for picking up the playbook quickly, so this one could go down to the wire in camp.
The edge rusher rotation has a clearer top layer, with Yaya Diaby back as a starter and Rueben Bain Jr. joining him. Al-Quadin Muhammad is lined up as the first rotational option and EDGE3, but the next spot is wide open.
Anthony Nelson looks like the early favorite for EDGE4 because of his long track record in Tampa Bay, while David Walker and Chris Braswell are also in the mix. Walker, a 2024 fifth-round pick, missed last preseason after tearing his ACL, and the Bucs are still high on him.
Braswell, a former 2024 second-round pick, is trying to get his career moving after a quiet start.
The most interesting competition may be at cornerback. Jamel Dean is gone after leaving in free agency for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Buccaneers are expecting Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison to handle the outside spots.
But Tampa Bay added Keionte Scott to play nickel, and that move shifts Jacob Parrish from nickel to the outside room. Parrish, who had two interceptions last season, could be the one player capable of truly challenging for a starting job.
If he beats out one of McCollum or Morrison, the loser would still have a path as useful depth if injuries hit.
If there’s one player who looks most vulnerable across all of these battles, it’s Braswell. He was a second-round pick in 2024, but through two seasons he has only 2.5 sacks and 48 combined tackles, and he still hasn’t made much of a dent in the edge rotation. With Walker drawing plenty of interest and carrying the intrigue of limited game experience, Braswell may need a huge camp to hang onto his roster spot.
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What stands out in Mayfields view is not just the production, but the mindset behind it. He says asking for help and being willing to show vulnerability have been central to handling the setbacks in his career and personal life, and that support from others has helped him stay mentally resilient as he rebuilt himself into a Pro Bowl quarterback. [Read more 🡒]